IT WAS a far cry from the triumphalism of his speech aboard an aircraft carrier some two years ago, when George W. Bush declared the end to major combat in Iraq. On Tuesday, before another military audience - this time on an army base that has lost dozens of soldiers in Iraq - the United States President was more solemn. In contrast to the banner which then bellowed 'Mission Accomplished', Mr. Bush had no choice but to acknowledge that "We have a lot more work to do."
The passage of time and the continuing body count of both American and Iraqi fatalities would have done much to temper the hubris which characterised Mr. Bush's penchant to swagger. Yet his administration is still insufficiently seized of the error of its ways and is seemingly determined to impose its will on people in the Middle East who want to determine for themselves the direction their countries should take.
It is understandable that Washington would feel obliged to maintain an unflinching stance in its Iraqi policy, having snubbed world opinion the way it did. But while the policy may have secured the primary aims of the hawks in the administration, it has been extremely costly in human and financial capital.
Public opinion polls show a steady decline in support for Mr. Bush's handling of the Iraq war. This, in turn, has fed a slide in his overall approval rating. As a consequence, the president's support-base in his own Republican Party is fraying at the edges at the very time that he seems to be losing control of Washington's legislative agenda.
Indeed, some observers have already begun to use the term "lame duck" to speak of the second term of the Bush presidency. That may be a bit premature, given the president's ability to emerge victorious from what seem to be hopeless causes. And never one to shy from conflict, Mr. Bush is unlikely to be cowed by his diminishing popularity.
Nevertheless, if he fails to rally the American public behind him, he may find the remaining years of his presidency ever more challenging. And while this speech may have reassured his supporters, his growing army of critics is unlikely to have been mollified.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
